Firsthand look at wartime labor and solidarity
This 1902 issue of The Shoe Workers' Journal blends reports from the union's official magazine with historical speeches about France, democracy, and the home front.
The issue includes a full address by Major E. Requin, a French staff officer, sharing reflections on France’s wartime effort and the crucial role of workers in producing munitions, weapons, and supplies. It also covers the broader wartime atmosphere in Britain and France, where production shifted from peace goods to essential war materiel.
- A detailed wartime speech that explains the connection between soldiers in the trenches and workers in factories
- Reports on labor missions and international perspectives during the war
- Observations from factory visits and the scale of war production in Britain and France
- Notes on union stamps, shop lists, and guidance for working in union-friendly repair shops
Ideal for readers interested in early 20th‑century labor history, union culture, and how workers helped sustain national war efforts. This edition speaks to anyone curious about the union’s view of solidarity, production, and democracy in a time of global conflict.